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In the photo, the Holy Father can be seen seated before the altar of the chapel where he concelebrated the Eucharist. The Vatican has released the first photo of Pope Francis since he entered the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14. “This morning, Pope Francis concelebrated Holy Mass in the chapel of the tenth-floor apartment at the Gemelli Polyclinic,” according to a statement from the Vatican Press Office. In the photo, the Holy Father can be seen seated before the altar of the chapel where he concelebrated the Eucharist, in what is the first image of the Pontiff since he was admitted to the hospital, first suffering from bronchitis and then pneumonia. The Vatican also reported that “the Pope’s condition remains stable” and after concelebrating Sunday Mass, “he is continu...

Hundreds stopped to receive ashes during Bishop Cullinan’s six-hour mission — a sign that despite cultural shifts, the Catholic faith still stirs hearts in Ireland. WATERFORD, IRELAND – On Ash Wednesday, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore, Ireland, took to the streets of Waterford City, offering ashes to anyone who wished to receive them. In a country where faith is often seen as fading, the response was anything but indifferent. “The reaction was humbling,” he told the Register, explaining that he was moved by the reverence of those who paused to mark the beginning of Lent. “Hundreds came for ashes. It is an extraordinary thing to make the Sign of the Cross on a person’s forehead, saying, ‘Remember that you are dust and into dust you shall return,’ and hear them repl...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Pope Francis prepared to spend the 12th anniversary of his election at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, people at the Vatican and around the world were responding to his most frequent personal request. “From the beginning of his pontificate, we have heard Pope Francis ask us to not forget to pray for him, and that is what we are doing,” said Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, as he led thousands of people praying the rosary for the pope March 10 in St. Peter’s Square. “It is not only Christians who are doing so, but the faithful of other religions and even many nonbelievers also are joining their hearts around Pope Francis,” the cardinal said. Pope Francis has made requesting prayers a hallmark of his papacy and a standa...

Fueled by youth searching for meaning in an uncertain world, Catholic influencers on social media have also emerged as significant factors driving this renewed interest. Is being Catholic becoming “hip” in France? This is what social media and field reports from many French parishes have suggested, against all odds, following the start of Lent, March 5.  In particular, an unprecedented surge in attendance for Ash Wednesday Masses this year was reported by Catholic weekly Famille Chrétienne that mentions a phenomenon “never seen before.”  From major cities to rural parishes, priests and parishioners have in fact described scenes of packed pews, standing-room-only congregations, and, most notably, a remarkable influx of young people — many of whom had been previously distant from t...

Christians are the most persecuted religious group on the planet. More than a dozen die each day for their faith. Although the deadliest place of all for Christians has been and still is Nigeria, some online observers might have concluded, erroneously, that last week it was Syria. The overthrow of the longtime Assad dictatorship to power only three months ago brought an Islamist government to power in Damascus that has struggled to address the country’s many problems. On March 6, a new problem arose: a deadly insurgency. Assad regime remnants, which were mostly drawn from the country’s Alawite religious minority, rose up on that day, killing government soldiers and police, civilians and even motorists on the highway who had the wrong license plates. Assad’s supporters targeted cars with “I...

The Holy See Press Office says that recent improvements in the Pope’s health situation “have been further consolidated”, but notes that he will need to remain in hospital for some time still. The Pope participates via video-link in both the morning and the afternoon sessions of the Curia’s spiritual exercises. 10/03/2025 Pope Francis had a quiet night and is resting, as he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, according to the Holy See Press Office on Monday morning. By Vatican News On Monday evening, the Holy See Press Office provided the following update on Pope Francis’ health: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition remains stable. The improvements recorded in previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical f...

Pope Francis continues to rest on Sunday morning, 9 March, following a peaceful night. The medical update yesterday evening reported that his clinical condition is showing a good response to therapy. By Vatican News 08/03/2025 The clinical condition of Pope Francis shows a good response to therapy. The prognosis remains guarded. This morning the Pope prayed in his chapel, while in the afternoon he … The Holy See Press Office has reported that, “overnight was quiet and the Pope is resting.” The message came on Sunday morning, 9 March, regarding Pope Francis, who has been receiving care at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since 14 February. The Press Office also said Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of St...

Vatican suppresses Argentine Miles Christi order Skip to content The Vatican has suppressed an Argentine religious order founded by a priest who sexually abused adult members, and abused the confessional to cover his tracks. Members of the Miles Christi religious institute after a 2021 liturgy. Credit: Miles Christi. The suppression of the clerical religious institute Miles Christi was announced by the Argentine bishops’ conference Thursday, but approved by Pope Francis before he went into the hospital for pneumonia last month, according to a March 6 announcement from the conference. The suppression is the latest in a series of moves during the Francis pontificate to address issues with religious institutes founded by abusive priests, and to address governance in new ecclesial movements an...

Under new norms, DDF weighs in on alleged mystic Skip to content The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said in a Tuesday press release that the writings of Italian writer Maria Valtorta should not be regarded “as having a supernatural origin,” and that passages suggesting the contrary should be taken as literary devices used by the author. María Valtorta. Image credit: public domain. The announcement is the latest such statement since the Vatican changed last year the Church’s process for evaluating visionaries and Marian apparitions. In a statement published March 4 but dated February 22, the DDF said that Valtorta’s “alleged ‘visions’, ‘revelations,’ and ‘messages’” cannot be considered to have a supernatural origin. María Valtorta was an Italian laywoman who wrote a five-volume li...

Pope Francis slept well throughout the night after suffering two respiratory insufficiencies on Monday, according to the Holy See Press Office. By Vatican News “The Pope slept through the night and now continues to rest,” said the Holy See Press Office on Tuesday morning. The Press Office has reported that the Pope is continuing his respiratory therapy and physiotherapy, and has resumed high-flow ventilation (i.e., not mechanical ventilation), using a nasal cannula for oxygen. Tuesday morning was devoted to rest and prayer. In the context of a complex condition, the situation currently appears stable. As has been noted, the Pope is being cared for by health care professionals of the Governorate of Vatican City State and a group of doctors of the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital. Recent updates ...

Pope Francis has suffered two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency caused by an accumulation of mucus, which was aspirated both times, according to the Holy See Press Office. By Vatican News On Monday evening, the Holy See Press Office released the following update on Pope Francis’ health: “Today, the Holy Father suffered two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency, caused by a significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm. “Two bronchoscopies were therefore performed, with the need to remove large secretions. “In the afternoon, non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed. The Holy Father remained alert, oriented and cooperative at all times. “The prognosis remains guarded.” The Pope’s blood test values are unchanged...

Pope Francis slept well and is resting, according to a Saturday morning statement from the Holy See Press Office. By Vatican News The Holy See Press Office said on Saturday morning that Pope Francis slept well and spent the first part of the morning resting. “After a quiet night, the Pope is resting”, read the brief Holy See Press Office statement.  The Pope has not experienced any further crises following yesterday’s bronchospasm. This morning he had breakfast, enjoyed a coffee, and read the newspapers. His condition remains complex, and the prognosis is still guarded 28/02/2025 A Holy See Press Office statement on Friday evening says Pope Francis’ respiratory condition worsened following an isolated bronchospasm. The Pontiff was promptly started on … An earlier sta...